Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Mott Haven, NY?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BUF–LGA. At 378 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 52m

Distance

378.5 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

153 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 57m

35m in the air

Air Distance

293 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

75 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → Mott Haven, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Buffalo, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Mott Haven, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and LGA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 55m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 20m

8h 20m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 500m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Mott Haven, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Buffalo 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 52m	2h 57m	9h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$187	$58
Carbon footprint	153 kg CO₂	75 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

378.5 mi 7h 52m

via I 86, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+14 min)

391.9 mi 8h 7m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Buffalo, NY to Mott Haven, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.